Chapter Text
Lying on his uncomfortable bed in the Olympic village Shane scrolled through his phone struggling with jet leg. He was sharing with Hayden who was snoring loudly from the other bed. Shane had warned him he wouldn’t sleep tonight if he took a long nap.
Opening his messages with Ilya he could feel the frustration growing that he hadn’t messaged back once. Shane knew he’d be tense since kissing him goodbye on his stairwell a month ago but the lack of communication was killing him.
He was unsure where the Russian athletes were staying. The village was vast with country flags hanging from every window. Climbing off the bed it squeaked loudly as he looked out team Latvia lining up by one of the many transport buses.
“Could you keep it down I’m trying to get my beauty sleep.” Hayden groaned throwing a pillow
“Ok old man, that’s the Latvian team heading out for their game” Shane responded lightly kicking the end of Hayden’s bed.
“Alright, I’m up that was a quick power nap. Do you want to see the game? Cliff was going to watch Rozanov play. Maybe we can get some insider knowledge for the next round.” Hayden smiled with one eye open
“You’ve been asleep for 3 hours it was hardly a power nap and I doubt Cliff would spill on Rozanov they are friends.” Shane responded pulling on a team Canada hoodie.
“you try having a third child during an Olympic year and then tell me if you are tired? Hayden yawned flipping open his suitcase and getting ready.
…
Sitting in the lounge Cliff was laughing with a group of team Canada ice skaters. Shane nodded at him smiling as Cliff called out “that’s my cue time to go watch Latvia get destroyed.”
“What have you been up to?” Asked Shane noting the handful of pins in Cliffs hands.
“Pin trading! I’m only missing two countries and I’ll have the set. Ilya already gave me his team Russia pin the minute we arrived and I’ve become a little obsessed with collecting them all.” Cliff beamed holding up a handful of shiny silver pins.
“How is Rozanov ….not seen him post anything since he got here?” Hayden snorted faking concern and raising an eyebrow
“Ahh yeah well…you see Roz doesn’t usually post or send anything when he comes home. I think his family are tough you know. I saw his father scream at him once. He’s a cop, even I was scared.” Cliff replied shaking his head
Shane frowned looking at Cliff saying:”what an asshole I saw him at the draft. My mom hates Rozanov’s father she saw him smack him on the back of the head getting into his car at the hotel. He was screaming at him on what was meant to be the best day of his life.”
Cliff tilted his head taking in Shane saying: “weird thought you hated each other?”
“Not really. That’s just been the press inflating it for views. Spoke to Rozanov a few times now at different events. It’s…a shame that he has such a bad home life.” Shane blushed as he let out all the air in his lungs as they came out of the apartment block.
They walked over to the bus collection point for athletes and got on hockey stadium transport. Sitting in the back row Shane was excited to see Ilya even if it was for a distance in the stands.
…
Arriving at the stadium Shane, Hayden and Cliff slowly made way through security showing their Olympic passes.
Sochi had built a massive new arena which was to be the home of Russian hockey once the games were over. Taking their seats Shane scanned the rows in front to see if he recognised anyone. It was a mixture of athletes, family members and officials in this section.
Three rows in front Shane watched Ilya’s friend Svetlana taking her seat. They briefly caught each other’s eye with Svetlana quickly scanning Shane up and down. She gave a brief smile and wave to Cliff as she turned and sat down opening up a programme.
….
The players made their way onto the ice as the announcements got underway. Shane watched Ilya skate up and down coming to a halt in front of him.
Waving and smiling Shane’s heart leapt as he saw Svetlana blow a kiss down to him. Shane felt his stomach knot with jealously as he wished it could be him doing that.
Minutes later the teams were fighting out it on the ice. The first few minutes it was a dirty game Shane thought. The competition was firece and he leaned in watching Ilya take a hit from his own teammate
“Oh what was that about” Shane asked looking at Hayden who shrugged.
Cliffs phone was buzzing and again with Hayden asking “pin trading hotline looking for you.”
“Very funny no it’s my notifications. The internet sucks in the village I’ve just turned it on here. Oh my god, fuck!” Cliff gasped looking at his phone
“Must be a big emergency in the life of a pin trader.” Hayden laughed elbowing Shane in the ribs who also laughed.
“Guys shut up. Listen to me. A picture of Rozanov is all over the internet with him kissing a man. They are saying it’s from a club in Boston from a few years ago. Shit what should I do?” Cliff turned the phone and Hayden grabbed it looking at the picture
Shane’s whole body tensed and his breathing became short as he glanced at the picture and followed Ilya’s jersey on the ice. He was back on his feet and arguing with a teammate. The story must have reached the players as he was being called off his shift.
“We need to help him. He could be in big trouble for this in a country like this.” Cliff said scratching his head and shifting in his seat looking about him. Shane was busy searching twitter for different keywords that could connect them.
Svetlana was on her feet clapping as Ilya skated slowly from the stands as she signaled him and turned to the stairs.
“We should speak to her. She’s Ilya’s friend maybe she can help she speaks the language.” Shane managed to get out.
Shane felt like he was having a panic attack as the stadium got louder around him.
Almost sensing their fear Svetlana stopped and leaned in and said “wait a few moments and then meet me in the hall. We are all being watched yes.”
….
Shane’s legs bounced in anticipation the anxiety rising in him. The leaked picture, his messages with Ilya and all the times they have met up. It would be only a matter of time before everyone found out.
He was more scared of what would happen to Ilya now. Would he be arrested, sent to prison and never be allowed to play hockey again. Shane felt so naive in not knowing more about the country of the man he loved.
Hayden put his hand on his knee and whispered: “relax Shane. Listen I’m gonna come and say it right now. You can scream at the next play and let out the frustration then we leave.” Shane looked at Hayden as he let out a breath
“I know about you and Ilya ok. It’s fine we’ll get him out back to Boston.” Hayden confessed seeing Shane’s eyes grow wide
“How could you…what?…. How do you?” Shane tried to gasp out but Hayden stood began clapping and shouting at the events on the ice.
He leaned over and pulled Shane to his feet and kicking at Cliff saying “come on let’s go we need to find him before the cops.”
Shane let himself be pulled up and was amazed at Hayden’s action. He guessed with three children under 4 he was used to dealing with disaster’s by this point. Getting an international hockey star out of home country they didn’t even speak the language of was giving Shane some serious doubt.
…
They made it to the corridor above the stadium where they saw Scetlana pacing talking in quick Russian as she clicked her fingers for the hockey players to fall into line
“We must move quickly. Ilya does not have a lot of time. I just posted some pictures of us before the game. That should be enough to get me into a room with him.
You three will need to distract the police. Now who has cash on them.” She said holding her hand out as Shane, Hayden and Cliff searched their pockets.
A few moments later Svetlana stuffed everything she had into her purse before turning to Cliff saying “now you are on his team yes. We can say you were on the night out in the club and police can speak to you whilst I help Ilya get away.”
Cliff cried “you want me to distract the police?”
“Yes you will do this whilst I go shout at Ilya that the wedding is off.” Svetlana said moving her rings about on her hand slipping one onto her ring finger before turning to Hayden “married yes?”
“Umm yes I am.” Hayden said puzzled looking at Shane.
“Good now give me” Svetlana grabbed Hayden’s hand pulling off his wedding band
“Ilya will be engaged to me until we can get him out of Russia and onto a plane. He will need to take a train if he doesn’t have his passport on so let’s pray that’s not the case. Now I will give him your phone and my Credit cards. He has your number yes.” She said pulling at cliffs shoulder and taking his phone out his hands.
“Yes he does” Cliff said glancing at them all
Shane’s heart was pacing so fast he thought he was going to pass out. The plan was insane but it might just work. Cliff handed his phone to Svetlana as she turned and gave them further instructions before following her.
….
They marched together through the stadium with Shane guiding them back to the changing rooms. Svetlana glanced many times at Shane and he could feel she wanted to ask him a question that never came.
Reaching the locker rooms they stopped at the sight of three Russian policeman and Olympic officials arguing.
A security guard tried to stop Svetlana before she quipped back arguing. He threw to his arms and let them pass
“Now everyone ready” said said straightening up approaching the scene
“Excuse me I would like the speak to my fiancé.” She said in English to the Olympic officials.
“Fiancé?” Said the French hockey representative
“Yes Ilya Rozanov. I see some stupid social media posts have went up and I must speak with him immediately!” Svetlana raised her voice making her way to the door. A hand blocked her stern Russian being spoken “Mr Rozanov is being taken into police custody.”
“Not before i speak with him. We are engaged to be married and it is was a secret until today” She said holding up her hand “now if you want to do something useful to do speak to this idiot” she said pointing at cliff “he’s the one who took my love to a club where he got so drunk he didn’t know who he was kissing”
“Is that right” said the policeman rounding on cliff who shrunk against the wall
“Now if you don’t mind I would like some privacy to speak with Ilya…alone” Svetlana said pulling open the door and slamming it shut behind her.
Shane watched helplessly as the door shut and Cliff was lead away to an office room nearby. He went to follow but Hayden grabbed his arm whispering “stick to the plan Cliff knows what to say. We need to guard the door for as long as possible.”
Shane nodded torn at what to do next. He wished he could swing open the door and tell Ilya to run, to get back to his cottage to the safety of home.
This was Ilya’s home and he was never going to see it again Shane thought. Feeling a pat on his back Hayden nodded to seats facing the door of the changing room where one policeman stood awaiting Ilya. It was all up to Svetlana’s plan now and keeping their cool.
It was time to say goodbye to Russia for good.